Are you looking for fresh, affordable produce and ways to practice your Italian? Look no further than the amazing markets of Firenze!
Helpful Vocabulary:
Un etto di…
~100 grams of…
(perfect for cheeses and cold cuts!)
Una busta
A bag
Questa/Questo
This
Posso Avere…?
Can I have…?
Vorrei…
I would like…
Quanto costa?
How much does this cost?
Lo scontrino
The receipt
And don’t forget “Per Favore,” “Grazie,” or your Italian numbers for that matter!
Me and my classmate practicing our limited grasp of Italian, haha
Keep In Mind
Although vendors are happy to provide small bags for an additional fee, you will definitely want a tote bag or similar load-bearing accessory to transport all your mouthwatering foodstuffs!
Mercato Centrale
We begin with Mercato Centrale. Surrounded by leather shops and local vendors, Mercato Centrale is located just a 7 minute walk from the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral (AKA the duomo). The ground floor of Mercato Centrale is a food market with a great array of butchers’ cuts, handmade pastas, fishes, cheeses, and anything else you could desire to prepare a meal of your choosing. Upstairs, you’ll find a beautiful food court with plenty of seating, table-side beverage service, and so many food options you’ll want to eat every meal there. À la carte options allow you to order exactly what you’d like at your ideal price point. Try all the specialties of the region including Florentine steak, authentic gelato, pastries, Italian beer, and more!
Feeling full? Mercato Centrale often hosts events like cooking classes, artisan workshops, and happy hours to reinvigorate your appetite!
Mercato Sant’Ambrogio
Next up is Mercato Sant’Ambrogio. The Sant’Ambrogio area is a calm, quiet oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the historic center, and only a ten minute walk away. With cozy cafés, book stalls, and several different denominations of religious spaces, it is a wonderful place to take a walk (una passeggiata) or have some sweet frittelle di riso with your espresso!
At the market, join locals in their daily grocery shopping as they choose fresh fruits, meats, and vegetables from their favorite vendors. The outside of the market consists of fruit/vegetable stands as well as some clothing and accessory stands, while the inside is home to many vendors including cheese and fishmongers, butchers, and pasta makers.
If you’re looking for a quick lunch, the market is the perfect place to pick up your picnic classics: a sausage or two, some delightful pecorino cheese, a ripe heirloom tomato, and a box of bright, red strawberries.
Promised your family you’d bring home a taste of Italy? Il Cernacchino, a shop in the indoor portion of the market, has specialty food items such as dried fruits and nuts, flavored olive oils, and all sorts of truffle-flavored treats. Next to the Mercato Sant’Ambrogio is a flea market, Mercato delle Pulci, offering furniture, silverware, art, and other unique items.
An awkward photo taken by my mother while I was buying us some pink radicchio at Mercato Sant’Ambrogio for dinner. Despite my trepidation, the vendors are always very patient and helpful when faced with my elementary vocabulary.
Other shopping options!
If by some stroke of misfortune you are unable to visit these markets during their operating hours, no worries! Scattered throughout the historic center are small grocery stores like Conad or Carrefour Express where you can pop in to pick up groceries, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and Nutella ice cream. There are also large supermarkets located Oltrarno (on the other side of the Arno river) like COOP and Esselunga, but with all the great options in the historic center for eating out and in, you may not feel the need to go!
With all this in mind, eat well and happy, and return home with the experience to say,
